High-Difficulty Side Quest

The next morning, they all gathered at the Healthy Stir-fry Restaurant and sat around a six-person table, waiting for breakfast.

Breakfast was Yangchun noodles, with no other toppings, just a sprinkle of chopped scallions. The noodles were handmade by Jiang Jiankang, and the broth was his prized creation.

No other ingredients were needed; the broth alone was enough.

The noodles were chewy and delicious. They finished the large bowl of noodles as if a whirlwind had passed through.

"Brother Feng, you really went through it. Eating pig slop with me at A University the past couple of years," Wang Hao said with emotion, impressed by how delicious even this simple breakfast was.

"Yeah, Brother Feng, your restaurant should have opened sooner," Qiu Chen agreed. He looked at Liu Zixuan and suddenly remembered something. "Zixuan, don't you have an early class? Why are you up so early?"

"I'm here to help out at the restaurant. Waking up early is good for your health," Liu Zixuan replied, his face unblinking, as if he wasn't the same person who couldn't wake up for the club gathering before.

With some time before class, Jiang Feng and Wang Hao walked slowly to the classroom.

At the base of the teaching building, they ran into Professor Li.

"Good morning, Professor," Jiang Feng and Wang Hao greeted in unison.

"Hello," Professor Li nodded at them and called out to Jiang Feng, "Jiang Feng, I have something I want to ask you."

Wang Hao, being perceptive, went ahead to the classroom first.

"Professor, what is it?" Jiang Feng asked.

"I just wanted to ask if your father knows how to make Clear Soup with Bird's Nest Slices. I saw it on the menu yesterday, but it wasn't available," Professor Li inquired.

Jiang Feng was surprised that Professor Li had even looked at the menu. He replied, "Sorry, Professor Li, my dad can't make that dish. Only my grandfather can. My grandfather is in the countryside right now. If you'd like to eat it, I can call him and ask."

"Is that so?" Professor Li didn't seem disappointed and followed up, "I wonder if your grandfather is..."

"My grandfather's name is Jiang Weiguo." The old man was quite famous when he worked as a head chef at the state-run restaurant back in the day. But Professor Li was from Yanjing, so he probably hadn't heard of the old man's name from so far away.

Seeing Professor Li's expression, he clearly hadn't heard of Jiang Weiguo either. "Then I'll have to trouble you. Let's go up together."

As they walked, Professor Li suddenly seemed to remember something. "Jiang Weiguo... Weiguo... Jiang Feng, do you know Jiang Chengde?"

"Jiang Chengde? He's my great-grandfather." Jiang Feng was surprised that Professor Li knew Jiang Chengde. According to his grandfather, their great-grandfather had died during the war.

"Jiang Feng, I implore you to invite your grandfather over. Money is not an issue, nor are the ingredients. Please," Professor Li suddenly became agitated.

"It... it shouldn't be a problem. My grandfather just prefers to stay in the countryside; he hasn't stopped cooking," Jiang Feng was a bit taken aback.

"Please," Professor Li bowed deeply to Jiang Feng.

An old teacher bowing to him made Jiang Feng flustered. He mumbled, "Professor, I need to use the restroom," and fled as if escaping for his life.

"Ding, optional side quest available. Please choose your path."

A side quest?

Jiang Feng, in a corner of the restroom, opened his status panel.

The side quest had become:

Side Quest: (Optional)

1. [Mother's Wish] Wang Xiulian has always hoped to have a gentle, understanding, and slender daughter-in-law. Please help your mother fulfill her wish by finding a gentle, understanding, and slender girlfriend. [Choose: Yes/No] 2. [Li Junming's Wish] Li Junming's father, Li Mingyi, is nearing the end of his life. Li Mingyi, born into a prominent Yanjing family, has unforgettable childhood memories of a Clear Soup with Bird's Nest Slices dish made by Jiang Chengde, the former head chef of Tai Feng Lou. Please help fulfill Li Junming's wish and allow Li Mingyi to taste the Clear Soup with Bird's Nest Slices from his memory. [Choose: Yes/No]

After clicking "Yes," the task changed to:

[Li Junming's Wish] Li Junming's father, Li Mingyi, is nearing the end of his life. Li Mingyi, born into a prominent Yanjing family, has unforgettable childhood memories of a Clear Soup with Bird's Nest Slices dish made by Jiang Chengde, the former head chef of Tai Feng Lou. Please help fulfill Li Junming's wish and allow Li Mingyi to taste the Clear Soup with Bird's Nest Slices from his memory. Task Progress (0/1)

Task Hint: This mission is extremely difficult. Please explore on your own.

Task Reward: Unknown

Jiang Feng: ...

Thanks a lot for the "explore on your own"!

Of course, he knew the mission was difficult. Even his grandfather couldn't replicate the legendary Clear Soup with Bird's Nest Slices made by Jiang Chengde.

Who was Jiang Chengde? In his grandfather's words, he was once the talk of Beiping City. Royalty and descendants of the X Banner had to queue up to eat his dishes. He had access to all sorts of rare ingredients; if he wanted dragon meat from the sky, those old gourmands could get it for him.

One was a top-tier player, the other a stubborn bronze.

They weren't even in the same league.

As expected of a professor, even his wishes were this difficult to fulfill, harder than a hidden quest!

Jiang Feng went to find the professor.

Wang Hao had already secured a good seat in the 4th row – not too close, not too far, perfect for listening to lectures or taking a nap.

"Brother Feng, what did Teacher Li want to see you about?" Wang Hao asked curiously as Professor Li reviewed his notes on the podium.

"He wants to ask my grandfather to make him a Clear Soup with Bird's Nest Slices," Jiang Feng didn't hide anything.

"Wow, Professor Li must be really rich," Wang Hao exclaimed. "No wonder they say he owns a courtyard house in Yanjing."

He didn't know where Wang Hao got his gossip.

"Is Clear Soup with Bird's Nest Slices delicious?" Wang Hao's main concern was the taste.

"I haven't," Jiang Feng replied. His family wouldn't possibly have the time to make such an expensive dish.

"Brother Feng, I heard your family's restaurant opened. We'll come check it out at noon!" a classmate behind him said with a laugh. "Will we get a discount?"

"Ten percent off for finishing your plate and posting it on your Moments," Jiang Feng stated, sticking to his principles.

"Qian Tang, let me tell you, Brother Feng's dad's cooking is truly..." Wang Hao, never forgetting his advertising duties, turned and began bragging to the students behind him about Jiang Jiankang's culinary skills.

As he spoke, Wang Hao pulled out his phone and shared a photo of the pork knuckle from the previous night, earning a chorus of amazed exclamations.

"This pork knuckle is over a hundred dollars!" Wang Hao made sure to emphasize the price.

"If it's over a hundred, a few of us could chip in and order one to try!" another student, who clearly wasn't short on cash, chimed in.

"The pork knuckle needs to be pre-ordered," Jiang Feng said, turning back. "It takes several hours to braise, so we can't possibly make it on demand."

Jiang Jiankang only had one pork knuckle today, and he'd cry if it sold out.